Bored of cramming irregular verbs? Shuddering at the thought of another Spanish vocabulary exercise? Then it’s time to change tack.
How about watching some quality TV in Spanish and letting the language wash over you? Make some popcorn while you’re at it. We’ve chose five top programmes, from five different categories for you to watch: News, Soap Operas, Documentaries, Internet Series and Drama. Check them out. Learning Spanish will never be boring again.
#5 – NEWS:
BBC Mundo is the Spanish-language news service belonging to BBC World Service. Their website, bbcmundo.com is an excellent source for news, analysis and factual information, and there are tons of videos for you to choose from.
Watch current, breaking world news in Spanish, find out about the newest technological and scientific advances in South America, or get the lowdown on Hispanic culture, politics and economy.
The BBC Mundo website also has a lively Spanish-speaking web community. The site has well over 8 million visitors every month, and you can follow debates and take part in commenting on videos and topics on their Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites.
#4 – SOAPS:
This Argentinian “telenovela”, or soap, features four friends (all girls) who live in a big city and well, basically, date lots of men and talk about them. Remind you of any other, big, American series…?
Well, if relaxing with a juicy soap opera is your thing, then Cuatro Amigas is definitely for you. You’ll certainly learn lots of excellent Spanish vocabulary to do with dating, gossip and men! (Viewer discretion is advised for younger viewers on some of the episodes). You can watch all the Cuatro Amigas episodes (as well as lots of other soaps, comedy, films, documentaries and more) on Yabla Spanish for a small subscription fee starting from $9.99 per month. On this site, you can also choose whether to have your programmes subtitled, which is quite handy.
#4 – DOCUMENTARIES:
Meaning The Forbidden Education in Spanish, La Educación Prohibida is an independent, crowd-funded documentary production that tells the story of several alternative education schools and methods in Spain and South America.
The alternative education systems documented in the film include home schooling, Montessori education and the Waldorf method, and the filmmakers contrast them with current Spanish and Hispanic educational systems, which, the film asserts, are out of date.
Whatever your feelings about the subject matter, the film is highly interesting as it recount educational history and how schools function in our society today. La Educación Prohibida is available online for free, you can watch it on YouTube. The film has had over 9 million views to date.
#2 – BEST INTERNET SERIES:
Malviviendo in Spanish means “bad living”. And that’s exactly what this edgy, black online comedy-drama based in Sevilla is all about. This series may not be suitable for the youngest audiences as the series features amateur actors playing characters trapped in “bad” everyday situations, like drug taking and crime, in the Los Bandilleros neighbourhood in Seville. Each of the show’s episodes starts with a title sequence parodying big prime time TV shows like The Sopranos, The X Files and Dexter.
In its humble beginnings, the show began online in November of 2008, and although a major Spanish television network tried to buy it, the producers and Director, David Sainz, declined due to the low price offered. The show later received a Nokia Qualid sponsorship award in 2009 and although Malvivendo is now broadcast on the TNT channel in Spain, it continues to show online for free. The show is due to emit its final episode on 7 July 2014. You can watch all the episodes for free online, on the show’s website Malviviendo.com.
#1 – DRAMA: Gran Hotel
The downside to Gran Hotel is that unless its airing in your country right now, you’ll have to buy the DVD set on Amazon or download or rent the digital version on iTunes. Having to possibly buy it, is the only negative to this award-winning Spanish drama series, which has taken the world by storm.
The series tells the story of Julio, a young man living in 20th century Santander. Julio gets a job at the Grand Hotel as a waiter – but the real reason behind his employment is for him to find out about his sister’s disappearance. The hotel seems to be a perfectly lovely, quiet place in the Spanish countryside, but high drama ensues as Julio fall in love with the owner’s daughter. She is the only person who can help him to investigate his sister’s strange disappearance, but Julio’s affair with her is highly dangerous…
You can find out more about the series on the official website, although viewers from abroad cannot access the online episodes. But the series is well worth investing in, if you enjoy period drama and want to learn the language watching one of the most highly acclaimed Spanish series of the year.
Well, we hope you enjoyed our selection of Spanish TV and online programmes, series and films! UniSpain is a specialist provider of Spanish immersion courses in Spain. Find out more about Spanish immersion courses, including intensive courses, gap year courses and the best cheap Spanish courses in Spain – or visit our blog for more information and Spanish language resources.
